Compiled by Jason Jones and Shadeed A. Kelly
Logo pictures by Eric S., V of Doom, and Shadeed A. Kelly
Editions by V of Doom and Shadeed A. Kelly


Background: Aaron Spelling opened his first TV production company named Thomas/Spelling Productions in 1967 as a joint venture with Danny Thomas to produce sucessful TV shows, dissolving this in 1973; then, he opened a new TV production company named Spelling-Goldberg Productions in 1972 as a joint venture with Leonard Goldberg, dissolving this in 1996; and finally he founded his own production company named Aaron Spelling Productions in 1969 to continue producing shows and TV movies, renaming after as Spelling Entertainment Group in 1988 and finally as Spelling Television in 1992. After, this company merged to Blockbuster Entertainment in 1994, but Spelling take back all control of this company in 1995, until that it merged finally to Viacom (later renamed CBS Corp. in 2006) in 1999, but Spelling continued producing shows until his death on June 23, 2006, at the age of 83, with the dissolution of his company by CBS Corp. On April 4, 2007 it was announced that 7th Heaven's series finale on May 13, 2007 would be dedicated to Aaron Spelling. Already every single episode from Season 11, read these words at the beginning of the closing credits: "In memory of Aaron Spelling". Actually, all Spelling library was owned mainly by CBS Corp. and distributed on TV by CBS Television Distribution; however; the rights to many Spelling-Goldberg Productions shows are held and distributed by Sony Pictures Television, which also co-produced a fraction of the library (as Columbia Pictures Television). The other SG shows are distributed by CBS Television Distribution and 20th Television.


Aaron Spelling Productions

(1969-1989)

Logo: Aaron Spelling Productions never had a logo. In the ending credits of shows like Dynasty and Hotel, and generally on TV movies, the text in the series type font would appear superimposed at the end:


Variant: On shows like The Love Boat and others, it would probably have some optional custom type font variation of the company name on screen:


FX: Seen on closing sequences with cut screens.

Music/Sounds:The closing theme of the show.

Availability: Uncommon, currently seen on Dynasty on SoapNet.

Scare Factor: None.
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Spelling Entertainment/Television

1st Logo
(1989-1992)

Nickname: "Abstract S"

Logo: Just a black (sometimes blue) screen with "SPELLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC." in white, and a stylized "S" that somewhat resembles the "S From Hell" Screen Gems logo. This S, however, has three lines going upward, three lines going down, and a rectangular structure behind it. "SPELLING" has the largest typeface, and the additional byline is progressively smaller, and appear below the Spelling name.

FX/Cheesy Factor: None really, except for the zoom-in effect seen on 2nd season episodes of Beverly Hills, 90210.

Music/Sounds: Once again, the ending theme would usually play over.

Availability: Uncommon, still seen on reruns of Beverly Hills, 90210 from the era.

Scare Factor: None.



2nd Logo
(1992-2007)

Logo: Against a blue background, two lines (one with streaks; the other with a filmstrip) would roll together; they would connect with an arch at the right side, resembling the shape of a magnet. The word "SPELLING" would then slide from that direction, with the word "Television", "Television, Inc." or "Daytime Television" inside the lower line. The "S" in Spelling is a bit larger than the rest of the logo, which shines in with "pings."

Bylines: Under it would read one of the following (as they appeared on screen):

• A UNIT OF BLOCKBUSTER ENTERTAINMENT (1994-1995)
• a subsidiary of SPELLING ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC. (1995-1999)
• A PARAMOUNT/VIACOM COMPANY (1999-2006)
• A CBS COMPANY (2006-2007)

The Blockbuster byline was accompanied by the Blockbuster Video logo, a blue and yellow ticket stub. The Paramount/Viacom byline was featured in the VIACOM "Wigga-Wigga" typeface in 2000. It was in plain Arial font in 1999. Also, the current byline appears in a laser inscription effect right under the Spelling logo.

Variant: Was referred to as "Spelling Daytime Television" on Sunset Beach from 1997-1999.

FX/Cheesy Factor: The sliding in of the "SPELLING" name. The animation is a bit simple, but has worked well to maintain with the changing bylines.

Music/Sounds: A 3-note synthenized tune is used. Otherwise, it uses the finishing of the ending theme from any show.

Availability: Common. It can be seen on reruns of 90210 and Melrose Place on SoapNet, 7th Heaven on Hallmark Channel, Charmed on TNT, and Summerland on The N, among others. The "Daytime Television" variant is long gone, as Sunset Beach (the only show it was on) has not seen the light of day in nearly a decade.

Scare Factor: Low, most themes playing over this logo are pretty lush, and the colors work, so it should be OK with most.
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Thomas/Spelling Productions

1st Logo
(1967-1969)

Nickname: "Thomas/Spelling Emblem"

Logo: On a navy blue background, there is an emblem that features a red shield outlined in yellow with yellow curled ribboning and an outlined eagle on top of the emblem with the words: "Thomas/Spelling" with a diagonal ribbon line separating the names inside the shiled and a yellow arched banner with an arched word "PRODUCTIONS" in red.

FX: None. It's just a static picture.

Music/Sounds: The closing theme of the show.

Availability: Extinct; it was seen originally on The Guns of Will Sonnett.

Scare Factor: Low.



2nd Logo
(1967-1973)

Logo: In the ending credits of shows like The Mod Squad, the text in the series type font would appear superimposed at the end:


But on The Guns of Will Sonnett, a custom disclaimer appears superimposed at the end:


FX: Seen on closing sequences with cut screens.

Music/Sounds: The closing theme of the show.

Availability: Seen intact on The Guns of Will Sonnett and The Mod Squad.

Scare Factor: None.
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Spelling/Goldberg Productions

(1972-1996)

Logo: The same thing went with S-G, which was also managed by producer Leonard Goldberg. It would just say:


or


Variant: Some shows are co-produced by Columbia Pictures Television. It would read:


Then, they would cut to the then current CPT logo afterward.

FX: The cut screens again

Music/Sounds:The closing theme of the show.

Availability: Uncommon, still seen on reruns of Charlie's Angels and, Starsky and Hutch, and Hart to Hart, among others.

Scare Factor: None.